Shipping package



July 1961 R. STUART ET AL 2,991,089

SHIPPING PACKAGE Filed June 18, 1956 te States Patent 2,991,089 SHIPPINGPACKAGE Robert Stuart and Charles Rickert, Chicago, 11]. Filed June 18,1956, 'Ser. No. 591,911 2 Claims. (Cl. 214-105) The present inventionrelates to shipping packages of the type adapted for packaging a largenumber of substantially identical, relatively heavy objects.

In the can making art, it is customary to package can covers in rollseach containing a fixed number of covers. One way of doing this is tostack a large number of can covers, say, two hundred and fifty, one onanother, and place the stack in a bag, to constitute a roll. A largenumber of such rolls are then assembled into one pack age for shipment.One way of assembling them is to arrange them on a skid, in rows, onerow upon the other, with alternate rows staggered to the extent of halfthe diameter of a roll so that each roll lies in the crotch formed bytwo subjacent rolls. In order to maintain a substantially rectangularassembly of rolls on the skids it is necessary to provide some means forholding the end rolls in place. It has heretofore been suggested to winda paper tape continuously between successive rows. of rolls, the tapepassing around the overhanging end roll of each row and continuing fromrow to row and thus binding the rolls into one continuous package, asshown in United States Patent No. 2,662,649. This entails the use of acertain quantity .of paper and acertain cumbersomeness in handling ofevery long sheet of paper during the assembly of. the package.

It is one of the objects of the presentinvention to pro vide a bindingarrangement which is relied upon to bind only the end roll or rolls inthe assembly. .80 long as those end rolls. are held in place the packagenecessarily remains intact. In accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention, each overhanging end roll of the assembly is bound tothe assembly by a strip of tape or the like, the two ends of which areanchored between adjacent rolls, so that the weight of the rolls aboveinhibit withdrawal of the tape and therefore holds the end roll inplace.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide apackaging arrangement wherein each of the overhanging end rolls islocked in place by its individual piece of tape and so arranged thatonly short pieces of tape are required, thus reducing the effortrequired in assembling the packages over what is required in handlingone long piece of tape.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide anassembly of rolls with a binding tape that binds them together, thebinding tape being of such surface configuration as to provide spacesfor the reception ,of part of the material of the adjacent or subjacentroll under the weight of the rolls above and thus interlock the tapewith the rolls and inhibit the retraction of the tape from the rolls.One suitable binding material for this purpose is a tinplate skeleton,which is the waste product resulting from the manufacture of can ends.It consists of what remains from a strip of tinplate after the materialto form the can ends has been stamped therefrom.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a shipping package constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof;

Patented July 4, 1961 "ice FIG. 3 is an enlarged side .view of afragmentary por.-.

tion of the package of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic front view. of' a modified form of package;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlargement of a portion of FIG. 8 is adiagrammatic front view of a portion of a alternate form of shippingpackage constructed in .accordance with the present invention.

In the accompanying specification like reference numerals designate likeparts throughout.

Reference may now be had more particularly to the embodiment of thepresent invention illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. A package 10 is madeup of astack of articles 12 which, insofar as the principlesof thepresentinvention are concerned, may be any of various kinds of articles.As a specific example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 eacharticle 12 is a cylindrical roll comprising a stack of can ends for usein closing open ended cans. The can ends are normally packaged in stackseach stack containing a certain number of can ends, say,- two hundredand fifty can ends, wrapped or bagged to form the cylindrical roll orarticle 12.

The package 10 is made up of rolls 12 which are disposed on a skid .orplatform 14 of the kind that may be lifted by a lift truck whose liftingfork is inserted un-. der the skid. The rolls 12 on the skid are held inplace by suitable separate binding strips 16. Each. binding strip 16 isof suitable material having the necessary flex ibility for interweavingwith the stack of articles and of suflicient strength for the purpose.Heavy paper or other fibrous material is suitable for this. purpose.Another suitable material which is preferred is the skeleton residue ofthe sheets from which the can ends were stamped. This is one of theWaste materials of the can making in.- dustry.

In forming the package 10 of FIG. 1. the rolls 12 are arranged instaggered rows 18, the lowermost row being indicated at 18a andsuccessive superposed royvs beingindicated at 18b through 18h. Thebottom row 18a is of a suitable number of rolls, in this instance ten,indicated at 12a through 12 The articles in the row, and successiverows, are, of course, in abutting relationship, but the drawing showsthem spaced to facilitate illustration, the drawing being in thisrespect diagrammatic. Separate binding strips 16 are used for holdingthe end rolls of the lowermost row 18a. Each binding strip is shown asencompassing the two endmost articles. The lower end portion 16a isfirst laid down and the two end articles 12a and 12b are placed thereonin proper position on the skid. The other end portion 16b of the strip16 is looped over the two end articles and is laid down in face to faceengagement or abutment with the end portion 16a. The third article isthen placed over the end portions 16a and 16b and the additionalarticles or rolls are laid in place to form the lowermost row. Theopposite end of the lowermost row is formed in the same manner as abovedescribed. The binding strip 16 is very thin. In the case of paper, itmay be of the order of 0.006 inch. In the case of a skeleton residue ofthe strip from which the can ends were stamped it is of a thicknessdetermined by the metal used. The rolls of the lowermost row of rollsrest on the skid 14.

The rolls of the successive rows 18 of FIG. 1 are in staggeredrelationship, each row containing the same number of rolls so that therolls in the odd numbered rows are in vertical alignment and the rollsin the even numbered rows are in vertical alignment, those of the evennumbered rows staggered with respect to those in the odd numbered rollsby a distance approximately half the diameter of a roll. This producesan overhang of the left hand end roll 12 in each of the even numberedrows and of the right hand end roll in each of the odd numbered rowsafter the first. Each of the intervening rolls in the rows above thebottom row rests in the crotch formed by the two subjacent rolls. Ineach row after the first, on the end of the row where there is anoverhang, there is provided a binding strip 16 for holding theoverhanging roll in place. This binding strip 16 is wrapped around theoverhanging roll and the next adjacent roll so as to encompass the twoend rolls, and the end portions of each strip are brought into face toface relationship and overlaid by the next roll of that row. The lefthand end of each even numbered row and the right hand end of eachsuccessive odd numbered row is completed in the same way as were the twoends of the first row. This stacking arrangement is the same for all ofthe rows so that each row above the first is bound at only one end. Thetop row may also be bound only at the overhanging end or, if desired, itmay be bound at both ends, as illustrated in FIG. 1. If desired, thebinding element at the left hand of the lowermost end may be omitted,although in the interest of security it is preferably to include thatbindmg.

While each strip 16 is shown as surrounding two rolls, it may bedesirable to have it surround only one roll, or three or more rolls.Considering the specific arrangement illustrated, that is, two rollssurrounded, the strip in surrounding two such rolls renders them ineffect a single package and prevents any tendency for that package toroll.

Preferably each binding strip 16 is quite short so that there is asaving of material and, what is by far more important, there is asubstantial easing of the eifort required to place the strips 16 inposition because each strip is short and easily handled. It may easilybe put in place in assembling the respective rows of articles and one ormore rolls may be placed over the free ends of each strip 16 to retainthem in place. Progress of forming the stack 10 is then continuedwithout concern for the binding strips until the next strip is to be putin place. There is no necessity for handling a very great length ofstrip material such as would be necessary where one continuous strip isused for the entire stack 10.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a modified arrangement wherein the articles orrolls in the first row are bound together as are the articles in each ofthe other odd numbered rows, the articles in even numbered rows beingunbound at each end and each resting in the crotch formed by the twosubjacent rolls, each being held in place merely by the weight of thesuperposed articles above them and by the additional fact that theimmediate subjacent row is held against spreading. In this instance, thelowermost row 20 of rolls 12 is held by a wrapping or binding tape 16'on which the ends 16a and 16b are juxtaposed. The tape 16 is first laidon the skid 14, with the center of the tape approximately at the centerof the skid and the two ends overhanging the end of the skid. The rolls12 of the bottom are then placed on the skid, with the centers of therolls overlying the tape 16', and then the two ends of the tape 16' arefolded over the bottom row of articles 12 and with the end 1612 of thetape overlapping the end 16a. This overlapped arrangement is notindispensable inthat the length of tape may be made shorter so that theend 16a is short of the end 16b but overlies two, three or four of therolls of the bottom row. The next row of rolls 20' is overlaid on thefirst row, overlying the tape; the second row of rolls contains one rowless than the first row so that there is no overhang of a roll of thesecond row beyond the first row. Successive odd numbered rolls are eachwrapped the same as the bottom row of rolls and successive even numberedrolls are entirely devoid of a binder or strip 16'. If the top row ofrolls is an even-numbered row and therefore cnt in l o erhanging endroll, it may be entirely unwrapped, as illustrated in FIG. 4, or, ifdesired, it may be wrapped in the same manner as are the odd numberedrolls. Furthermore, in the case of the top row of rolls, if it iswrapped, whether it is an odd numbered row or an even numbered row, theend of the wrapping binder on the top of the top row may extend over thetop two end rolls and then under the succeeding rolls in the top row inthe same manner as in FIG. 1. An end view of the assembly of FIG. 4would appear the same as in FIG. 2.

When the strip 16 is made shorter than that shown, the respective ends16a and 16b may each terminate between the top of the row wrapped andits immediately next upper row or, if desired, the end 16a may bewrapped around two of the left hand rolls as in FIG. 1 and the end 16bmay be wrapped around two of the right hand rolls as in FIG. 1 so thatthe two ends 16a and 16b are superposed on the top surface of the lowerextent of the strip 16'.

In FIG. 6 there is shown a plan view of a skeleton sheet used as thebinder 16 in FIG. 1 or the binder 16' in FIG. 4. This skeleton consistsof the remains after a piece has been stamped to remove therefrom thematerial for forming can ends. In this instance, there is indicated at asheet of tinplate, blackplate, template, or any skeleton residue of thematerial from which the can ends were stamped, or any other stripskeleton residue in the can making art. The tinplate skeleton here shownhas a series of holes 4141 in one row and a similar series of holes42-42 in an adjacent row, the holes being as close together as ispossible consistent with good sheet metal stamping practice. Betweenperforations there are strands 44 which are quite thin and there is athin strand 46 running lengthwise of the strip 40. The length of thestrip in this instance is approximately six times the width of thestrip. Because of the holes 41 that extend through i the strip 40, thereis a tendency for the strip to interlock with the rolls between which ithas been placed, thus increasing the force that might be required topull the strip out from between the rolls. In addition, the thinness andflexibility and irregularity of the connecting strands 44 and 46 tend toinhibit sliding of one end of the strip where it is superimposed overthe other end, thus further tending to lock the assembly together.

In FIG. 8 there is shown still another way of holding the package ofFIG. 1 together. This arrangement is in effect a combination of thearrangements shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. In this instance, the rolls 12 arestacked in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4 so that the end rolls ofeach odd numbered row above the first overhang the end rolls of thesubjacent rows. Each overhang roll may then be bound in the same manneras in FIG. 1, or as shown in FIG. 8, by having the binder 16", which maybe the same binder as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, wrapped so that thelower end of each binding strip underlies a number of rolls 12 in thatrow, in this instance four, and the upper end of each binding stripoverlies the same number of rolls, or a greater or lesser number ofrolls. In other respects this package is the same as the package ofFIGS. 1 or 4 and the rolls in the top row may be wrapped in the samemanner as are the rolls in the top row of FIG. 1.

The skid 14 in effect constitutes an integral part of the package of thepresent invention.

The metal binding strip of FIGS. 6 and 7 when used to bind together agroup of articles as in FIGS. 1, 4 or 8 has certain functionaladvantages over a paper strip, aside from the economy that results fromthe fact that the strip is a skeletal waste of the can making industry.The metal strip is sufiiciently thin so that it may be easily flexedmanually to the shapes of FIGS. 1, 4 or 8 and yet it has sufiicientresistance to flexing to aid materially in holding the end overhangingroll in place because loosening of the end overhanging roll entails asliding and a change in fiexure of the strip, and the strip resists suchchange in fiexure. Any attempt to pull a free end of the striplengthwise from between the rolls 12 entails a change in flexure of thestrip as each part thereof moves from a position overlying one roll to aposition in the crotch between two adjacent rolls. The strip istherefore more tenaciously held between adjacent rows of articles. Thisis in addition to the fact that the strip, by reason of thecomparatively large holes 42, tends to interlock with the articlesthereabove and thereby further tends to resist retraction of the stripfrom the package.

While we have shown the strip in FIG. 6 as being of a comparativelyshort length, as required for the particular package of FIG. 1, agreater length being required for the package of BIG. 4, it is withinthe purview of the present invention to make the strip of very greatlength, much in excess of the individual lengths required for thepackage of FIG. 4, and to wind the strip between the rows of articles asillustrated in US. Patent No. 2,662,649 in lieu of the paper bindingelement there shown. When that is the case, a skeletal element 40 ofgreat length is required. This skeletal element preferably is of thewidth indicated in FIG. 6, although it may be of a greater width ifdesired, up to a width equal to the length of the rolls as seen in FIG.2.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes we have hereshown and described a few preferred embodiments of our invention. It is,however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to theprecise constructions here shown, the same being merely illustrative ofthe principles of the invention. What we consider new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A package comprising a plurality of substantially similar wrappedcylindrical rolls of can tops or the like arranged in verticallysuperposed rows, on one side of the package the end roll of alternaterows of rolls overhanging the subjacent row, where there is a subjacentrow of rolls, each remaining roll of the rows above the bottom rowresting in the crotch between the two subjacent rolls, and flexiblebinding strip means looped around the respective overhanging end rolls,said binding strip means comprising metal skeleton strip material fromwhich the can tops are stamped and thus having apertures of substantialsize and approximating the diameter of the rolls, thereby tending toresist relative sliding of the skeleton strip means with respect to therolls, said binding strip means having portions interwoven with articlesinwardly of the package and disposed under and retained in position bythe weight of articles thereabove and said band means interlocking withsaid wrapped packages at said holes.

2. -A package comprising a plurality of articles of substantial weightarranged in vertically superposed rows, and flexible metal binding stripmeans in the form of band means having holes therethrough of a lengthand width on the order of the transverse dimension of the stackedarticles, said binding strip means being looped around at least onearticle at an end of at least each of alternate rows, in each end of thepackage, and having portions extending inwardly of the package beyondthe end articles and disposed under and retained in position by theweight of articles thereabove, each of said package means having awrapping, and said band means interlocking with said wrapped packages atsaid holes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,474,963 Greenstein Nov. 20, 1923 1,993,216 Marshall Mar. 5, 19352,059,390 Pagel Nov. 3, 1936 2,662,649 Gill et al Dec. 15, 1953 FOREIGNPATENTS 684,094 'France Mar. 11, 1930

